From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Aug 24 2000 - 10:40:49 EDT
Uzbek leader on unrest in south and northeast of capital
On 22n August the Uzbek president visited the area of armed clashes with
Islamic militants in the south of the country and talked to the troops
involved in the military operations. Speaking to journalists at Tashkent
airport on his return from the area, Islam Karimov said that one should not
expect a quick end to the clashes in Surkhandarya Region, although there
were only about 10-20 militants there now. He said the conditions were hard
in the mountains for any military actions and he wanted the troops to avoid
any losses. Karimov also said a similar situation had emerged 100 km
northeast of the capital, Tashkent, where a 15-strong armed group clashed
with government troops. Karimov promised comprehensive aid to Tajikistan to
rebuild it after the civil war in exchange for cooperation in stopping
militants from crossing to Uzbekistan from that country. The following are
excerpts from a special Uzbek TV programme the same day on the president's
visit to Surkhandarya:
[Presenter] Respected television viewers, today the Uzbek president, Islam
Karimov, visited mountainous Uzun and Saryassiya districts of [southern]
Surkhandarya Region to study the progress of the combat operations to
eliminate the terrorist and extremist groups, which have infiltrated our
country. Here is our report on this.
[Passage omitted: the main purpose of the visit was to study the plan to
destroy the militants and analyse the situation; Karimov tells servicemen
about the importance of wearing helmets; says one should not underestimate
the enemy and wishes the troops good health]
[Correspondent] After his visit to Saryassiya and Uzun district, president
Islam Karimov spoke to journalists at Tashkent airport.
[Question] Our people are worried about the events in Surkhandarya, at the
same time they are angry at the actions of the international terrorists.
You closely studied the situation today. What can you say about the combat
readiness of our servicemen? How would you assess the situation there?
[Karimov] [passage omitted: the conflict areas are difficult to reach] In
general, the conditions in these mountains are very difficult, I thinks it
will be very difficult to destroy and clean our soil from the militants,
who have infiltrated our land with evil intentions - it would be correct to
call them scorpions, - as they have undergone special training and
fortified their positions beforehand.
Believe it or not, there are such 1 km long tunnels there: you enter one in
one place and come out in another. Today I saw the maps. I talked to many
people today, ordinary soldiers, officers and their commanders. This is not
a simple operation and it cannot be carried out very quickly. It is really
difficult. A single group positioned in a tunnel, for example, can resist
hundreds of men.
Proceeding from this, I can draw a conclusion that our servicemen, above all
commanders, did not take this into account during the first days. You all
can remember that during the first days of the operations to wipe them out
we lost, we can say this without any doubt, our bravest young men. Of
course, we will analyse everything after the completion of the operations -
the reasons and what mistakes were made. The point is not to find those
guilty. The point is that such military operations require a clever
approach. We are in our own land and our own soil, it is the enemy who
entered our territory, we must think thoroughly and measure seven times
before cutting, as an Uzbek proverb goes, and we would not have suffered
such losses if we had approached the military operation this way.
In this connection, our people should know about the situation. Above all,
addressing the parents of the officers and servicemen who are taking part
in the combat operations in Surkhandarya, [I'd like to say] we will not
allow such mistakes to be made again. That is, the situation is such that
in these precipices [changed track] and it is difficult to determine their
[militant's] number - although according to military estimates, there are
some 10 to 20 villains who are holding their positions and still putting up
resistance. Of course, we are able to put an end to all this, to eliminate
them all.
However, as leader and president, I did not instruct our servicemen to
destroy [the militants] in two, five or 10 days. No. This would have been a
stupid thing to do. We are protecting our own land, so why should we rush?
I think that you will pass on to our people what I said there [in
Surkhandarya] today. I told our servicemen that I never set such stupid
tasks before anyone. After fortifying our positions, placing everything, if
need be, using available weapons, equipment and helicopters, we are able, I
repeat once more, we have enough power, enough wisdom [to destroy
militants]. We should be skillful, we should not use the methods used
during the Afghan war, when soldiers were lined up and given an order to
advance. I would like to conclude my thoughts by saying that they [the
militants] have been blockaded, they cannot escape anywhere. However, I
told them that we should take care of our officers and servicemen and
successfully complete this military operation.
You have asked about our men's mood. They are in good spirits.
Our reports from the areas of combat operations should be fair, we should
tell only the truth. We should tell about our shortcomings as well. Why
this is happening and why we are suffering losses? Our journalists should
report all this openly.
[Passage omitted: young men throughout the country condemn the militants; we
should take care of our young men; we should be devoted to our motherland;
the purpose of the visit to the south was to study the plans for final
operations]
I should say one thing openly. Our people, the public should know that apart
from the events in Saryassiya, the combat operations taking place in
Saryassiya, the operations to destroy the evil forces, militants,
scorpions, monsters who have infiltrated our country through our southern
borders, a similar situation has emerged in other areas bordering on
Tajikistan. I should say this openly looking into the eyes of my people.
People, my people, we should always remember how serious the situation is
and what threats it might pose. Why? The events that have been taking place
in Surkhandarya is part of evil plans. They all are connected with one
another. What are the reasons and who and what forces are standing behind
this? What are their purposes and intentions? How, with what support and
why they set themselves a task to infringe upon our peaceful life? What
sections of our borders they are planning to violate? What forces are being
trained for this and who is supporting them? How powerful are these forces?
How strong are these groups? Where do they gather, in what centres? I
should know their plans, because I am the president, the leader, and I call
on other leaders to do the same.
[Passage omitted: everybody should be vigilant; neighbourhood heads should
be active]
From this point of view, I should tell our people about one report. From the
beginning of August in [Tajik] Leninobod [now Soghd] Region, about between
15 to 20 militants from Jirgatol, Jirgatol is in southern Tajikistan, it is
a mountainous area next to the Afghan border [changes track] We know that
there are militants' centres there. There are Afghans, or what do you call
them, Pashto or Arabs, many of them are staying there and drawing their
plans. They are undergoing training there to carry out their evil plans,
they are arming themselves. Just listen - they cross the whole territory of
Tajikistan, beginning from Gharm [central Tajikistan], then Romit [central
Tajikistan] and enter Leninobod Region, then from Adrasmon [Soghd Region]
to Navgarzon [Soghd Region, border area with Tashkent Region's town of
Angren].
For about 20-25 days now we have been working together with the Tajik
leadership, jointly with their military forces, security service, heads of
military units. I should say this openly, we are working together in order
to find them [the militants] more quickly and destroy them. However, this
is Tajik territory, and you understand that we have no right to enter their
territory. We can help them. We have reports that these groups are in Asht
District [near Angren, 100 km east of Tashkent] and looking for ways to
cross our borders. We have received this report about 20-25 days ago. I
will say once again that we have been working jointly with the Leninobod
Region authorities, the military forces there, border guards, with the
leadership in Dushanbe [Tajik capital]. I had a telephone conversation with
[Tajik President] Emomali Rahmonov, to prevent all this.
However, what I am going to tell you now is that they, like scorpions, have
found a way to cross our border. At present in Tashkent Region, in the
Chatkal mountains, near the border with [Kyrgyz] Dzhalal-Abad [Region] -
you remember that last year 14 of them crossed the border - now we have
reports that about 15 of them are hiding in those areas, like mad dogs.
What troubles they may bring to us? We are taking all measures to prevent
this. We have set up headquarters in Burchmulla [Tashkent Region] where we
have quite powerful forces, including large military units. We are taking
all measures to find and destroy them. I have to tell the people in
Tashkent Region, in the city of Tashkent about this. We have nothing to
conceal from them.
[Passage omitted: we rely on and trust our people; we have enough military
potential, but people should be vigilant; the Tajik suffered a lot during
the eight years of the civil war]
I should say this openly and let people in Leninobod, our friends and
brothers hear me. Who helped you in your hardest days, when you were short
of bread, when you did not have a handful of flour? Who stood shoulder to
shoulder with you to help avoid starvation and overcome losses and the war?
Who was the first to give you a helping hand? Who supported you? You all
understand and know what I mean.
Recently, after our visit [to Tajikistan] we decided to open roads, our
gates, railways and other roads. We are generous people. It is in our plans
to help you, to cooperate with you and build our future together. If I were
asked to say who is the closest nation to the Tajik people, I would say
this is the Uzbek people. Because they are one nation speaking two
languages. Our roots are the same.
[Passage omitted: during his visit to Dushanbe he spoke about Uzbek-Tajik
friendship; the speech was broadcast and everybody could hear what he said]
Well, I had only one condition. I will open everything, do everything what
I can, we will not spare anything, we are ready to help overcome all the
problems [in Tajikistan], including the present drought, water shortage and
all other problems. However, I had one and only condition: guarantee our
security, close the borders for evil forces, let these various bearded
scoundrels not cross to our territory, do not let these thugs and robbers,
who ruined your lives for nine years, enter your territory, do not let them
approach our borders and cross to our country!
I am addressing the people of Leninobod Region, the Uzbeks and Tajiks who
live there, let them hear me. We have common roots. I am going to repeat my
one and only condition. My condition was, I asked you earnestly: we will
open all our borders, our hearts, only do not let those scoundrels in. Has
it been difficult for the Tajik people to meet our fair demand and
condition? Has it been difficult for Tajik citizens? Is this condition fair
or not? Every nation wants peace. They [militants] are in Leninobod Region.
We have no objections against that. But, block the routes the villains use,
detain them for us, and we will give them a good lesson. Let us fight for
our peace together. For example, could not Tajiks and Uzbeks in Asht
District stop these 15 scoundrels who have infiltrated Tashkent Region from
Leninobod? You could. Why are they crossing to our territory from your
territory and upsetting our peace? Why? Is my question fair or not?
My policy, my approach concerning interference into internal affairs of
Tajikistan is clear. No-one has ever been against Tajikistan's policies. I
have never been against my friend Emomali Rahmonov's policies and I would
like to repeat what I said there [in Tajikistan]: we all are ready to
support Emomali Rahmonov, I personally am ready. We are ready to help, to
support, to establish peace in his country as soon as possible. No-one will
obstruct his efforts to ensure prosperity in Tajikistan. We will help him
as much as we can. We are a nation of 25m people. We have great power and
opportunities, we will not spare anything, because if there is peace in the
land of our neighbours, there will peace in our land as well.
The last thing I would like to say is that we should rely on our own forces.
No-one will come from abroad and help us, never.
Source: Uzbek Television first channel, Tashkent, in Uzbek 1640 gmt 22 Aug
00
BBC Mon CAU 230800/** bb/am
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